What was erupting in the year...?
There were 64 confirmed eruptions at some point during 2003 from 62 different volcanoes; 28 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with "(continuing)" indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated. Data is reported through the last data update (19 September 2025). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Eruption Type | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 2003 Oct 26 ± 5 days | 2004 Mar 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 2003 Sep 22 (on or before) | 2003 Dec 12 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 2003 Sep 12 | 2003 Sep 12 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 2003 Aug 29 | 2003 Sep 15 ± 5 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Gamalama | Indonesia | 2003 Jul 31 | 2003 Oct 2 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Sabancaya | Peru | 2003 Jul 30 ± 1 days | 2003 Jul 31 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 2003 Jul 26 | 2003 Aug 1 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 2003 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 2003 Jul 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Asosan | Japan | 2003 Jul 10 | 2003 Jul 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| NW Rota-1 | United States | 2003 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 2010 Mar 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| San Cristobal | Nicaragua | 2003 Jun 17 | 2004 Jun 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Heard | Australia | 2003 Jun 9 | 2004 Jun 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Lopevi | Vanuatu | 2003 Jun 8 | 2003 Jun 16 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Northern EPR at 10.7°N | Undersea Features | 2003 May 31 (?) ± 30 days | 2003 Oct 15 ± 21 days | Submarine | 0 |
| Lewotobi | Indonesia | 2003 May 30 | 2003 Sep 1 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 2003 May 30 | 2004 Jan 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Villarrica | Chile | 2003 May 23 (?) | 2004 Mar 25 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 2003 May 17 | 2003 May 23 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Anatahan | United States | 2003 May 10 | 2003 Jul 12 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Chikurachki | Russia | 2003 Apr 17 | 2003 Jul 3 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Vailulu'u | United States | 2003 Apr 16 ± 2 years ± 15 days | Unknown | 0 | |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 2003 Apr 14 (?) | 2003 Oct 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Monowai | New Zealand | 2003 Apr 10 | 2004 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Llaima | Chile | 2003 Apr 9 | 2003 Apr 16 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Mayon | Philippines | 2003 Mar 17 | 2003 May 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | 2003 Mar 7 | 2003 Jul 23 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kikai | Japan | 2003 Feb 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2003 Oct 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Asamayama | Japan | 2003 Feb 6 | 2003 Apr 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 2002 Dec 23 | 2003 Apr 1 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 2002 Nov 24 | 2004 Apr 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Reventador | Ecuador | 2002 Nov 3 | 2003 Jan 10 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Rabaul | Papua New Guinea | 2002 Oct 6 (?) | 2004 Feb 17 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Veniaminof | United States | 2002 Sep 24 | 2003 Mar 23 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Witori | Papua New Guinea | 2002 Aug 3 | 2003 Mar 26 ± 25 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 2002 May 25 (?) | 2003 Apr 9 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 2002 May 17 (?) | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Fuego | Guatemala | 2002 Jan 4 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Etna | Italy | 2001 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2003 Nov 9 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 2001 Nov 15 | 2016 Apr 1 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Montagu Island | United Kingdom | 2001 Oct 1 ± 20 days | 2007 Sep 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 2000 Dec 19 | 2004 Jul 5 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Soputan | Indonesia | 2000 May 13 | 2003 Sep 4 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Saunders | United Kingdom | 2000 May 13 | 2013 Nov 16 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 2000 Feb 28 (in or before) | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kavachi | Solomon Islands | 1999 Nov 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2003 Aug 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Tungurahua | Ecuador | 1999 Oct 5 | 2009 Jul 8 ± 7 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 1999 Aug 15 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1999 Mar 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2003 Oct 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Colima | Mexico | 1997 Nov 22 | 2011 Jun 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1996 Jun 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2005 Aug 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Popocatepetl | Mexico | 1996 Mar 5 | 2003 Nov 22 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Soufriere Hills | United Kingdom | 1995 Jul 18 | 2003 Oct 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 1994 Sep 18 | 2006 Jul 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.3; 26 Nov 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
